AAAA News

AAAA to work with Joint Select Committee on Road Safety

9 August 2019

With road safety a key area of focus for government and the broader
community, the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) has
welcomed the formation of the new Joint Select Committee on Road Safety.

With a mandate to enquire and report on how to reduce Australia’s road accident rate, and trauma and deaths on our roads, the AAAA is eager to engage with the committee on the important role that vehicle servicing plays in road safety.

While newer vehicle
designs, construction and new safety technologies are major factors in reducing
crash numbers, serious injury and death on our roads, it is regular maintenance
and servicing that ensures these vehicles continue to operate safely on the
roads for years to come. With the longer-term trend of lower new car sales and
consumers holding on to their cars for longer, regular servicing is more
important than ever.

Worryingly, according
to AAAA research, 30% of vehicles are not receiving regular or required
services, increasing the risk of component failure or other issues that
directly impact vehicle safety.

Cost of servicing
remains a key reason behind this statistic, so ensuring servicing remains
affordable and that consumers have a choice is the best way to increase the
number of vehicles that are regularly serviced.

The majority of vehicles
in Australia are serviced by professional technicians in independent
mechanical workshops, therefore it is imperative that car manufacturers share
critical vehicle maintenance data with these workshops on fair and reasonable
terms.

“We are eager to provide the Joint Select Committee information around affordable measures that encourage owners to have their vehicles regularly serviced and maintained, including a mandatory data sharing scheme for independent workshops,” said Stuart Charity, CEO of AAAA.

“The AAAA has long championed a mandatory data sharing
scheme on behalf of independent service and repair professionals across the
country. Denying consumers their choice of vehicle service provider is a threat
to competition and safety.”

Unfortunately, Australia lags behind other countries in relation to
data sharing, with Europe and the U.S having regulations in place to encourage
regular vehicle servicing and consumer choice. The AAAA is however confident
that a mandatory scheme is forthcoming and continues to work with Government on
behalf of the automotive service industry to make sure the implementation of
this scheme is achieved in a timely manner.

The AAAA will work proactively with the Joint Select Committee to highlight the
importance the vehicle service and repair industry has on road safety outcomes
and outline how the AAAA can assist the industry play their crucial role in
reducing the nation’s rising road death toll.